Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GEDI THREE GEN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by flowers having white ray florets with a slightly creamy center. The plant naturally blooms in the last two weeks of August. The plants are freely branching, and have a round and mounding growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘GEDI THREE GEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of hybridization of an undistributedfemale parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘95 136 74’ (unpatented) and amale parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘GEDI ONE TER’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 13,885). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by DirkPieters in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, in September, 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture and terminalcuttings was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type onsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI THREE GEN.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. The flower has white ray florets with a slightly creamy        center.    -   2. The plant has a round and mounding growth habit.    -   3. The plant is freely branching.    -   4. The plant exhibits average vigor.    -   5. The plant naturally blooms beginning the last two weeks of        August.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the female parentvariety, ‘95 136 74’ in most horticultural characteristics, howeverplants of the new cultivar have larger diameter flowers that are longerlasting than the flowers of the female parent variety ‘95 136 74.’Plants of ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ have a more round growth habit than theplants of the female parent ‘95 136 74.’ Additionally, plants of ‘GEDITHREE GEN’ are taller than the female parent variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ are similar to plants of themale parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE TER,’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar are more flexible,and have a more round plant growth habit than plants of the male parentvariety. Additionally, plants of the new cultivar ‘GEDI THREE GEN’naturally bloom approximately two to four weeks earlier than plants ofthe male parent variety ‘GEDI ONE TER.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘FLORENCE’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 13,102), the new variety ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ hasapproximately 11 more flowers per flowering branch. Additionally, thenew variety ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ blooms approximately two to three weeksearlier than the comparable variety ‘FLORENCE.’ The floral longevity ofthe new variety is about 11 days longer than the comparable variety. Theflowers of the new variety ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ have fewer ray florets thanthe comparable variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ grown in a 2 gallon container. Onecutting was used in the pot. The colors are as nearly true as isreasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘GEDI THREE GEN’ plants grown in a greenhousein Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the month of September, 2003.The growing temperature ranged from about 12° C. to 15° C. at night toabout 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical flowering types, and are believed to applyto plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil andclimate elsewhere:

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘GEDI THREE GEN.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceious perennial.-   Height: Approximately 28.5 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 23 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 15.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 135 days from a rooted    cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6.2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 5.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Palmately lobed and toothed.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 138A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 138B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            138A. Venation upper side: Near Green 138B. Venation under            side: Near Green 138B. Type: Palmately net.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 2.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Flower:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            approximately 13.5 hours, approximately 45 days of            appropriate day length required to induce and develop            blooms.        -   Form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the last week of            August through the first week of September.        -   Number of flowers per lateral branch.—Approximately 22.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.9 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Longevity on plant.—Approximately 29 days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per flower.—Approximately 180.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Yellow 11B.            Upper surface at maturity: Near White 155D. Upper surface at            fading: Near White 155D. Under surface at first opening:            Near Yellow 11C. Under surface at maturity: Near White 155D.            Under surface at fading: Near White 155D.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of disc florets per disc.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 11B. At maturity: Near            Yellow 11C. At fading: Near Yellow 12D.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.4 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.7 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Yellow 12D.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 42.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 138A. Under side: Near Green            138A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 5D.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow 2D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Stamens:—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Two-branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 5D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-green 154D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 6A.        -   Pollen color.—Pollen not detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility has been    observed.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperature of about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold an amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water, the    plants are hardy to a high temperature of about 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage wherein seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GEDI THREEGEN’ as herein illustrated and described.